Expansion of the Electric Locomotive Fleet for European Rail Freight

Alpha Trains has signed a contract for the purchase of 25 additional EURO6000 electric locomotives from the manufacturer Stadler. Delivery of the vehicles is scheduled for 2028, expanding the leasing company's specific fleet for the Iberian and Central European markets to a total of 92 units.

Track Gauges and Cross-Border Route Networks
The order comprises locomotives in two distinct configurations to accommodate the structural requirements of the European rail network. The Iberian broad-gauge models are designed for expanding rail freight operations within Spain. The UIC standard-gauge vehicles are engineered specifically for the Mediterranean Corridor, enabling seamless transport across the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). This configuration directly connects Spain with France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, eliminating the need to switch locomotives at international borders.

Powertrain Architecture and Traction Performance
The EURO6000 series is equipped with six axles and delivers a traction power output of six megawatts. This powertrain architecture allows the vehicles to haul heavy freight trains exceeding a trailing load of 2,000 tons across steep track sections while maintaining cruise speed. The integrated multi-system capability further ensures technical interoperability, allowing the vehicles to operate under various national electrification and train protection systems.

Additional Context: This section details technical specifications not included in the original announcement.
In modern railway engineering, the combination of six axles and six megawatts of power characterizes the Co'Co' axle configuration, which utilizes two bogies with three separately driven axles each. This design maximizes the adhesive weight and tractive effort on the rails, which is strictly required to navigate the topographically challenging inclines found across the Iberian Peninsula. A major logistical hurdle in European rail transport is the variation in track gauges: Spain traditionally uses the Iberian broad gauge (1,668 mm), while France and the rest of Central Europe rely on the UIC standard gauge (1,435 mm). To efficiently serve the Mediterranean Corridor, these multi-system locomotives must not only be delivered with respective track-gauge compatibilities (via separate running gear) but must also be capable of seamlessly switching between different electrification infrastructure systems (e.g., 3 kV DC in Spain, and 1.5 kV DC / 25 kV AC in France).

Edited by Lekshman Ramdas, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

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